Hazel Village

Hazel Village was founded by Jane Van Cleef in 2010. She started making animals that she would have loved as a child in the front room of her apartment in Brooklyn. Jane sold them on etsy with their own little outfit and story and at local craft fairs around Brooklyn.

Hazel Village now produces the animals responsibly, striving for heirloom quality at a reasonable price, stocking animals to over 200 stores, including Barney’s, ABC Home, and Nordstrom. Hazel Village has their own storefront in Brooklyn, where six people work full-time making doll clothes, shipping orders, and assisting customers.

Jane’s passion is making quality toys that can stay with children as they grow up – first as soft, snuggly friends, then as companions for storytelling and dress-up play, as the inspiration for craft projects, and eventually as treasured keepsakes.

Hazel Village is named after the American Hazelnut tree: a source of delicious nuts, magical divining rods, useful twigs for basketry, and food for caterpillars.